91´ÎÔª

With a strong passion for expanding access to higher education, Shara has led innovative initiatives that promote student success through the development and expansion of progressive educational programs and models. At the heart of her leadership philosophy is a firm belief in the power of collaborative teams—those that highlight each member's unique talents. Recognizing that impactful work begins locally and spreads globally, she is motivated by the idea that “change is inevitable, but growth is optional,” and she leads with care, responsibility, and purpose to foster meaningful transformation.

Email: shara.tscheulin@mso.umt.edu

Phone: 406.243.2921

Julie is deeply committed to increasing access to education for all learners. Passionate about lifelong learning, she excels at creating innovative solutions to educational challenges. Her focus is on providing opportunities and empowering others to pursue continuous learning in a constantly changing world.

Email: Julie.cahill@mso.umt.edu

Phone: 406.243.5658

Tricia lives in Missoula with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. She loves spending time with family and friends, going on hikes with the dogs, paddleboarding, and attending outdoor events like farmers' markets and craft fairs. Tricia attended the 91´ÎÔª, earning her bachelor's degree in communication studies in 2014. She has been working at the University since 2022 and loves that she gets to use her degree every day as the Director of Finance and Personnel for the Office of Educational Initiatives & Innovation. Her favorite saying is: "We're all doing the best we can with what we have, and everyone's best changes every day. Give yourself love and grace to make mistakes and fail, and have the same expectation and compassion for others. That's the only way to learn, grow, and succeed in our unique and beautiful journeys of life."

Email: tricia.hatfield@mso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.4580

Jeff supports departments across campus with an emphasis on planning and coordinating the launch of academic programs. Leveraging 20 years of service and experience at UM, he works with faculty and staff to lay the groundwork for valuable and enduring new educational opportunities.

Email: Jeffrey.wimett@mmso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.4470

Nancy oversees the Learning Experience and Design (LEAD) team, which consists of instructional designers and media specialists who provide support in online course design and pedagogy to faculty. The LEAD team is committed to helping create an engaging learning experience for all students. She has been at UM in various instructional design roles for 15 years and previously taught instructional technology courses in the College of Education. She earned a master's in instructional design and a doctorate in educational leadership from UM.

Email: nancy.clouse@umontana.edu 

Phone: 406-243-5815

With a diverse background in education, Sarah has worked as a high school teacher, college adjunct, adult education coordinator, and learning experience designer. She holds a Master’s in Geography and a Master’s in Learning Technologies, combining subject matter expertise with a passion for innovative, learner-centered design in higher education.

Email: sarah.benedict@mso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.4566

Jeanie is an instructional designer who collaborates with faculty to develop high-quality digital learning experiences and course assessment and improvement. She leads faculty trainings, develops comprehensive support resources and documentation, and assists faculty in ensuring accessibility compliance. Jeanie excels in managing design projects, leveraging eLearning tools, and fostering innovative, inclusive learning experiences.

Email: Jeanie.castillo@mso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.2812

Rebecca is a Senior Instructional Designer and UM Alumni with an M.S. in Geography, and brings a unique blend of practical experience to instructional design. She previously worked as an adjunct instructor and academic advisor, roles that deepened her understanding of pedagogy, curriculum development, and student needs, and she leverages this expertise to support innovative course design and faculty support. Rebecca is also committed to improving processes through close collaboration with stakeholders, working to streamline workflows and enhance the overall learning experience.

Email: Rebecca.kranitz@mso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.6833

Sierra guides instructors through the course development process in Canvas at all stages. You will often see her leading and assisting with online and in-person Canvas trainings. She also designs graphics and animations to support online instructional content creation. She loves to play roller derby, foster kittens, and crack jokes.

Email: sierra.shaw@mso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.4579

Justine got her MFA in Integrated Digital Media here at UM and now works as an instructional designer with LEAD. She is also a part-time cryptozoologist, cat lady, and historian on engineering catastrophes.

Email: Justine.evans@mso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.6419

Tanna serves as an Instructional Designer, partnering with faculty across campus to develop engaging, learner-centered courses. She finds joy in brainstorming with instructors, refining strategies, and demystifying Canvas so that great ideas translate into both online and face-to-face spaces. With more than 25 years of education experience spanning K-12, state agencies, higher education, and corporate professional learning, she brings a systems view and passion for educational innovation. Tanna holds a B.S. from Montana State University in Organizational Communication and a Ph.D. in Instructional Design, Development, and Evaluation from Syracuse University.

Email: tanna.kincaid@mso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.4567

Jodi is enthusiastic to work with faculty to create high-quality, innovative, effective, and engaging university courses and to support faculty in the journey of teaching online. She brings a wide range of educational experience to Instructional Design from early childhood to sports instruction to graduate programs, and holds a Master of Education and Instructional Design Certification from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, as well as a Teaching Online Certificate from Quality Matters, the global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments.

Email: jodi.rinaldi@umontana.edu 

Phone: 406-243-4568

Shea brings a blend of technical knowledge and creative thinking to his work designing and supporting high-quality learning experiences. Since 2019, he has helped faculty and students troubleshoot issues, build user-friendly web experiences, and design accessible, engaging online courses. After earning his degree in Computer Science with a minor in Media Arts, he joined the EII team full time. In addition to instructional support, Shea helps manage and maintain the EII and Canvas websites, combining his strengths in organization, design, and problem-solving.

Email: shea.soto@mso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.4594

Avianna loves helping faculty bring their courses to life online. Since 2019, she has worked with instructors and partners to design learning experiences that are engaging, accessible, and inclusive. She blends her instructional design knowledge with a passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, adding custom graphics, animations, and multimedia that make courses both beautiful and easy to navigate. From aligning lessons with learning goals to adding creative visuals, Avianna works to make online learning a welcoming place for all students.

Email: Avianna.soto@mso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.4593

As an alum of UM, LeRoy brings a wealth of experience to his role with LEAD. His professional background includes videography for the Mike and Maureen Mansfield Library, television advertising production for two Missoula-based stations, digital marketing for a manufacturing firm, and numerous freelance filming and editing assignments. Since joining the LEAD team in March 2022, LeRoy has been dedicated to creating engaging educational video content in partnership with UM's faculty and staff while also maintaining a future-focused approach to emerging video technologies and role-relevant skill development. In his spare time, he enjoys writing, performing and recording music, cooking, and traveling.

Email: leroy.menahan@umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.6426

Michael earned a B.S. (2003) and M.S. (2005) in Computer Science from the 91´ÎÔª and began serving as the university’s Learning Management System (LMS) Administrator in August 2006. Since then, he has supported the institution’s transitions from Blackboard to Moodle, and now to Canvas. With a strong technical background, he helps maintain a stable, flexible LMS environment that empowers both instructors and learners.

Email: michael.gaab@mso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.6373

Brady Schwertfeger wears many hats at UM. Primarily, he's an LMS Admin, running the back end of Canvas, UM's online learning platform. He is also the President of the classified staff union on campus, FOCUS Local #8521, and is an MFA candidate in Creative Writing Non-fiction. Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Brady got his undergraduate degree in Philosophy at UM and has lived in Missoula for over 15 years.

Email: brady.schwertfeger@mso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.2983

Holly helps external entities offer Extended Credit and noncredit programs. She has over a decade of program management experience at UM. She is a Montana native, a UM alumna, and her personal interests include outdoor adventures, fishing, and traveling.

Email: holly.kulish@umontana.edu

Phone: 406.243.4168

Coco manages Extended Credit and Noncredit programming to better serve a wide audience of learners. They are primarily focused on growing noncredit programming and helping to deliver online development opportunities to Montana professionals. Coco is passionate about making learning accessible to people of all academic proficiencies. They are wonderful at helping first-time online learners get comfortable with digital content and online platforms. Of all the programs they facilitate, Coco especially loves the UM Beekeeping Certificate Program and the professional development opportunities Extended Credit provides to Montana Educators. Coco is also EII’s resident trivia and riddle master, keeping the team sharp with daily challenges.

Email: coco.ponce@mso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.6495

Alex drives innovation in learning as a program manager for extended credit and noncredit programs, with an emphasis on international opportunities and the humanities. He brings experience in research, communications, and academic support to find creative solutions for clients on campus, in Montana, and around the world. Alex holds a dual degree in History and Central & Southwest Asia Studies and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in English literature with an emphasis in Ecocriticism. In his spare time, you can find him at the local independent cinema or reading with his cat Peaches.

Email: alex.anderlik@mso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.6494

Eric directs the launch of new online programs, providing campus partners with expertise and guidance through the various stages of the process. From market analysis and labor insights to financial proformas and operational support; he is here to assist academic departments with the development of online degrees, certificates, microcredentials and digital badges. In addition, Eric works with various units on campus to ensure a quality user experience for students, oversees strategic planning efforts specific to online education, manages special projects, and maintains online education regulatory compliance.

Email: eric.vorkoeper@mso.umt.edu 

Phone: 406.243.6464